In the United States we find this Warbler only in spring and fall migrations. They appear to be much more rare in the spring than in the fall; while I have seen perhaps a hundred in the fall I have never seen but one in spring. They frequent wild tangled thickets, such as you often find [Maryland Yellow-throats] in. As they do most of their feeding upon the ground and remain in the depths of the thickets, they are rarely seen unless attention is drawn to them.
Song.—Somewhat like that of the [Maryland Yellow-throat]; call, a sharp, metallic “peenk.”
Nest.—In thickets or clumps of briars, either on the ground or just above it; made of strips of bark and skeletons of leaves lined with hair; eggs whitish sparingly specked at the large end with brown (.75 × .56).
Range.—Eastern N. A., breeding north of the U. S.; winters in northern South America.
MOURNING WARBLER
679. Oporornis Philadelphia. 5½ inches
Similar to the last, but with no eye ring and with a black patch on the breast.
These birds are found in swamps and thickets, as well as among the bushes and weeds along walls, fences and the edges of woods. Their habits are like those of the [Maryland Yellow-throats], they being found on or near the ground, scratching about among the leaves or gleaning insects from the foliage of the low shrubbery. They appear to be the most abundant in the middle states and northward.
Song.—Similar to the liquid song of the [Water-Thrush]; call, a sharp “peenk,” like that of the last.